Valve-spring lifter



J. L. RUDOLPH.

VALVE SPRING LIFTER.

APPLICATION FILED DEC;24. 1919.

1,362,440, Patented Dec. 14, 1920.

JOHN L. RUDOLPH, 0F COURTENAY, NORTH DAKOTA.

VALVE-SPRING LIFTER.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patgnted 14 192() Application filed December 2 1, 1918. Serial No. 347,173.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN L. RUDOLPH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Courtenay, in the county of Stutsman and State of North Dakota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Valve- Spring Lifters, of which the following is a specification. Y

The invention relates to a valve spring lifter and more particularly to the class of adjustable tools for removing the valve stems from internal combustion motors employed in automobiles.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a tool of this character, wherein jaws are arranged so that the same can be angularly adjusted in parallel relation to each other, whereby the same may be engaged with each and all of the valve stems in an internal combustion engine, and particularly those valve stems located in restricted places within the casing of the motor, so that the valve springs can be readily lifted to permit the removal of the key pin and collar or other formof retaining device for the valve stem, thereby facilitating the easy removal of the valve stem when the occasion requires.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a tool or valve spring lifter of the character described, wherein the construction thereof is novel, so that it can be readily and conveniently manipulated for the application thereof to a valve stem and operated for the easy lifting of the valve stem spring, irrespective of the tension of said spring, thereby enabling the quick removal of the valve stem from the motor, with comparatively little effort-on the part of the operator of thetool.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a tool or lifter of this character, wherein the bars carrying the stem engaging jaws are arranged for the spreading thereof or the bringing of the same together under-the action of a floating element operated directly from an adjusting screw, the said elementbeing relieved of undue friction and is readily and easily operated in the use of the tool.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a tool or lifter of this character, which is comparatively simple in construction, reliable and efficacious in operation, strong, durable and inexpensive to manufacture.

\Vith the above and other objects in view as will be readily understood, the invention will be hereinafter fully described in connection with the accompanying drawing, which illustrates the preferred embodiment thereof and the novel features of the invention will be distinctly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a tool or lifter constructed in accordance with the invention, showing the same in position for relieving the tension of the valve spring and engaged with the valve stem of a motor or engine.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the tool re moved from the valve stem.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. i is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line st-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken through a motor or engine casing showing the tool applied to a valve stem located at a restricted point within the motor, the jaws of the tool being adjusted and applied to the valve stem for the lifting of the valve spring.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the drawing.

Referring to the drawing in detail, particularly Fig. 1 thereof, A designates a portion of an internal combustion engine, B the valve normally seated andC its stem, which, as usual, has surrounding the same the coiled valve spring 10 which serves to seat the valve B and this spring is held by a collar 11 and a key or cotter pin 12 upon the valve stem C, the collar and key being of any ordinary well known construction.

The tool or valve spring lifter comprises stationary and movable bars or arms 13 and 14 respectively, the bar or arm 13 being formed with an end 15 bent up at right angles thereto and in the free extremity of which is swingingly connected the movable bar or arm 1% which is pivoted at 16 to the end 15 for swinging movement. The bars or arms 13 and l t for the major portion of their length are straight, while the remaining portions are formed with bights or curves 17 and bifurcated terminals 18 in which are swingingly supported laterally movable jaws 19 which simulate hooks and are connected in the terminals 18 by' the pivots 20 so that said jaws 19 can be moved laterally at varying angles relative to the longitudinal extent of the tool for a purpose presently described.

Arranged between the bars or arms 13 and 14 intermediatel is a floating link or spreading element 21 having the "forked ends 22 and 23 respectively, which straddle the bars or arms 13 and 14, the fork 23 being of greater length than the fork 22, which latter is swingingly connected by a pivot 24 to the bar or arm 14, while the fork 23 is movable relative to the longitudinal extent of the bar or arm 13 and in the fork 23 is an antifriction bearing 25 which is rotatably held therein in any suitable manner and travels upon the said bar or arm 13 when the link or element 21 is shifted in a manner presently described. This bearing 25 reduces friction in the movement of the link or element 21 and to prevent the separation of the bar or arm 13 and the fork 23 the latter has fitted transversely therein a retaining pin or bolt 26 which closes the fork and retains the same engaged with the bar, or arm 13, the link or element 21 in itsmovement in one direction being designed to spread the bars or arms 13 and 14 and on movement in the reverse direction to bring the same toward each other.

Threaded in the end 15 is an adjusting screw 27 which is formed with reversely threaded portions 28 and 29 respectively, the portion 28 being in threaded engagement with the end 15 and this screw at its outer end has fixed thereto a hand wheel 30, the threaded portion 29 being tapped into a feed sleeve 31 which is pivoted at 32 to the link or element 21 so that on adjustment of the screw 27 the said link or element 21 will be shifted for the spreading of the bars or arms 13 and 14 or the moving of the same toward each other forthe operation of the tool to lift the valve spring 10 about the valve stem C as is clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing.

One of the jaws 19 has fitted therein a pin 33 while the other jaw is provided with a hole 34 which is properly located therein toaccommodate the pin 33 when said jaws are brought together or close to each other, thus enabling both jaws to be adjusted correspondingly or manually shifting one of said. jaws and in this manner the jaws will not become irregularly adjusted and thereby permitting the same to engage about the valve stem. The adjustment of the jaws enables the tool to be used for the engageinent of said jaws with a valve stem located in a contracted point within the engine body, particularly the valve stems located adjacent to the end cylinders of the engine or motor, for assembling the valve stem C as illustrated in Fig. 5, which stem is adjacent to the wall of the body of the cylinder con: tiguous one corner of thelatter, thereby enabling the tool'to be successfully operated for the lifting of the valve springs about all the valve stems in a multiple cylinder motor or engine. Carried by the bars or arms 13 and 14 and passed through the bifurcated terminals 18 are springs 36, which act upon the jaws 19 to hold the same in adjusted position, the springs-being in the form of leaf springs andare fastened to the bars or arms in any suitable manner.

The tool is constructed for easy manipulation and to assure the quick lifting of valve springs to facilitate the" removal of valve stems by extracting the keys or cotter pins therefrom, the tool being handy and readily and conveniently operated.

From the foregoing it is thought thatthe construction and manner of operation of the tool as well as the various applications thereof will be clearly understood and therefore a more extended explanation has been omitted. 7

hat is claimed is 1. A tool of the character described comprising stationary and movable bars, hook like jaws swingingly connected to the free ends of the bars to be moved laterally, means connecting the bars together, a 'link pivoted to the movable bar and slidaloly connected to thestationary bar, and means ad justably engaged in the first-named means and connected with the link for operating the same.

2. A tool of the character described comprising stationary and movable bars, hook like jaws swingingly connected to the free ends of the bars to be movedlaterally, means connecting the bars together, a link pivoted to the movable bar and slidably connected to the stationary bar, means adjustably engaged in the first-named means and connected with'the link for operating the'same, and means on one of the jaws and engageable with the other jaw when both jaws arecontiguous with each other to sustain the same in registering relation to each other to permit simultaneous adjustment in a single operation.

'3. A tool of the character described com prising a stationary lever having an end bent at right angles thereto, a movablebar pivoted in said end, swinging jaws pivotally mounted in the free extremities of the bars, a link interposed between the bars andhaving opposite forked ends, a pivot pivotally connecting one forked end with themovable bar, an antifriction member interposed in the other forkedend of the link and movable over the stationary bar, means for retaining the said other forked end engaged with the stationary bar, an adjusting screw threaded in the bent end of the stationary bar, a connection between the linkand said screw and adjustably receiving the latter, and a hand Wheel on the outer end of the screw.

4. A tool of the character described c0mprising a stationary bar having an end bent at right angles thereto, a movable bar pivoted in said end, swinging jaws pivotally mounted in the free extremities of the bars, a link interposed between the bars and having opposite forked ends, a pivot pivotally connecting one forked end with the movable bar, an antifriction member interposed in the other forked end of the link and movable over the stationary bar, means for retaining the said other forked end engaged with the stationary bar, an adjusting screw threaded in the bent end of the stationary bar, a connection between the link and said screw and adjustably receiving the latter, a hand wheel on the outer end of the screw, and a pin carried by one of the jaws and engageable with the other jaw when both jaws are in close relation to each other for permitting the swinging of the jaws together.

5. A tool of the character described comprising a stationary bar having an end bent at right angles thereto, a movable bar pivoted in said end, swinging jaws pivotally mounted in the free extremities of the bars, a link interposed between the bars and having opposite forked ends, a pivot pivotally connecting one forked end with the movable bar, an antifriction member interposed in the other forked end of the link and movable over the stationary bar, means for retaining the said other forked end engaged with the stationary bar, an adjusting screw threaded in the bent end of the stationary bar, a connection between the link and said screw and adjustably receiving the latter, a hand wheel on the outer end of the screw, a pin carried by one of the jaws and engageable with the other jaw when both jaws are in close relation to each other for permitting the swinging of the jaws together, and means for holding the jaws in adjusted position.

6. In a valve spring lifter a pair of movable bars, swinging hook-like jaws carried by said bars. and means for adjusting the bars relative to each other.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature hereto.

JOHN L. RUDOLPH. 

